Electoral Registration

Individual Electoral Registration

A new process for voter registration was introduced in Scotland on 19 September 2014, which means each person is required to register to vote individually, rather than by household. The purpose of the new system, which was introduced in England and Wales earlier that year, is to ensure greater confidence regarding the identity of electors and improve access to the registration process.

How is the new system different

You need to provide a few more details to register – including your national insurance number and date of birth. This makes the electoral register more secure.

Everyone is responsible for registering themselves. Under the old system the ‘head of every household’ could register everyone who lived at their address.

Once a person is registered under IER their registration is continuous until they move to a different address or for any reason are no longer eligible to remain registered as an elector.

If you are not registered to vote, you are now required to register on an individual basis and provide ‘personal identifiers’ - date of birth and national insurance number. This will allow registration officers to cross check the information provided against national databases and other Council records before you can be added to the register. To complete the online voter registration application, visit https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

If you prefer, you can contact the Electoral Registration Office on 01292 612221 to complete your voter registration by telephone or to request a registration form. Please remember, you will need to provide your national insurance number and date of birth to complete the registration process.

Annual Canvass

During August-November 2016 we issued out to every household in Ayrshire a Household Enquiry Form. The forms contained the names of everyone currently registered at the property and eligible to vote. If your name did not appear on the form delivered to the household and you did not respond to this enquiry form you are not currently registered.

Voter Engagement App

AVJB have launched a Voter Engagement App for mobile devices. The application will be constantly updated and will feature relevant news items and current political events happening in the Ayrshire area. It also contains a link to the online registration site. Go here to download the App or

scan the QR code. The app is available to download on IOS or Android devices

Checking the Register

The Register of Electors is a public document and displayed widely throughout the registration area at public libraries, local council offices and at the office of the ERO. The link below provides a list of the Publication Offices and details the nearest location you can view a copy of the register.

If you are unable to find your name in the Register of Electors, or if you are unable to check the Register personally, contact the ERO for assistance.

Publication Offices

Click here to see the current list of publication offices where you will be able to view the Electoral Register for your area.